STEVENS POINT, Wis. — Bernhard Langer received the U.S. Senior Open on Sunday at SentryWorld to interrupt the PGA Tour Champions’ profession victory file.
Pushing his file because the oldest winner on the 50-and-over tour to 65 years, 10 months, 5 days, the German star broke a tie with Hale Irwin for the victory mark with No. 46.
“I’ve my mom that is going to be 100 on August 4th, so I believe I’ve good genes,” Langer stated. “Hopefully, I will be round a number of extra years.”
Seven strokes forward on the again 9, Langer bogeyed the ultimate three holes for 1-under 70 and a two-stroke victory over home-state favourite Steve Stricker on the tree-lined course with thick tough.
“By no means thought it might occur at a U.S. Senior Open, however I am very thrilled that the file of 46 wins occurred this week,” Langer stated. “It is definitely one of many best tournaments we ever compete in, and to beat this subject, the place all people was right here, particularly Stricker and [Jerry] Kelly on their dwelling grounds, is a really particular feeling.”
Langer completed at 7-under 277, with solely eight gamers breaking par for the week. He shattered the event age file set by Allen Doyle in 2006 at Prairie Dunes at 57 years, 11 months, 14 days.
“There are much more aches and pains than 10 years in the past,” Langer stated. “I nonetheless benefit from the recreation. If I play like I did this week, I’ll preserve enjoying. There have been the odd week once I thought, ‘What have been you doing out right here? Go dwelling and play with the grandkids.'”
The 2-time Masters champion has a file 13 victories since turning 60 and holds the highest 5 spots on the oldest winners checklist. He has a number of victories in 11 straight seasons and 14 total.
Additionally the 2010 U.S. Senior Open winner at Sahalee outdoors Seattle, Langer prolonged his file for senior main victories to 12. He received the Chubb Traditional in Florida in February to tie Irwin.
Stricker — from Madison, 100 miles to the south — birdied three of the final 5 holes for a 69.
“It offers all of us hope, I suppose, which are out right here nonetheless enjoying that we are able to proceed to play nearly as good as he is performed for such a very long time,” Stricker stated about Langer. “It is actually spectacular. I knew he wasn’t going to again off right now.”
Stricker received the primary two senior majors of the 12 months and took his hometown Madison occasion three weeks in the past for his fourth Champions victory of the season.
“It appeared like I had a poor 9 holes in there each day, and that simply ended up costing me the event,” Stricker stated.
Kelly, additionally from Madison, was third at 4 beneath after a 71.
“I used to be approach too amped up,” Kelly stated. “I used to be attempting to be settled and calm, however I used to be speaking greater than I’ve all week. I used to be shifting somewhat bit quicker than I’ve all week.”
Two pictures forward of Kelly getting into the spherical, Langer birdied the primary two holes for the second straight day.
Langer added a birdie on No. 5, then rounded from a bogey on No. 6 with birdie on No. 7. He opened the again 9 with a birdie on the tenth, parred the subsequent 5 and closed with the three straight bogeys.
“It was not straightforward,” stated Langer, who earned a spot subsequent 12 months within the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. “My age most likely confirmed up towards the top.”
Brett Quigley (66) and Rob Labritz (69) tied for fourth at 2 beneath. Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (71), Steven Alker (65) and Dicky Pride (69) have been 1 beneath.
“The tough was tough and, as many fairways as I missed, I believe I did OK,” Goosen stated. “I used to be like a cow on the market simply consuming cabbage the entire time.”
Langer, paired with Goosen the primary two rounds, sacrificed distance for accuracy to remain out of the tough.
“I believe that is one of many causes I did so nicely. I did not hit it within the tough fairly often,” Langer stated. “Took many 3-woods off the tees at instances, however then I needed to hit 3-wood into the inexperienced or a really lengthy membership. However I might reasonably do this than hit driver and wedge it out from the tough.”
